Title: Incubus Author: venenatus.venustas Author's Email: sigma_nunki@hotmail.com Pairings: Billy/Dom Rating: R Status: Finished – 7/7 Disclaimer: Fake, not mine, doesn’t represent my beliefs, etc., either; no profit involved. Summary: The night of Dom’s birthday brings a monster of a surprise. Warnings: AU - Alternate Universe, therefore some OOC. May be offensive to anyone of various religious beliefs. Also: a little blood and violence, and some implied non-consensual sex in the beginning. Maybe character death. Heehee. *** Part One: December 8 --- [December 8] Today is Dom's birthday. He spends the day with his best friends, bowling and shooting pool and smoking and drinking and at night, clubbing and dancing and grinding with pretty petite girls. He stumbles back into his apartment after 3am. His eyes catch the blinking of the digital clock in his room as he falls into the bathroom. Three-oh-three in the morning. --- [December 9] Today is the day after Dom's birthday, but not really because it's still night time. It's three forty two in the morning, Dom's digital clock tells him as he sinks into bed, pulling the covers up to his chin. And just as his eyes close, they open again, impossibly wide, breath pressed out of his abdomen and lungs by an unmovable weight. --- [3:43 a.m.] "Hello," says the creature above him. "Um," Dom says, and blinks because, man, he had a lot to drink tonight. "Dominic, isn't it? Billy." The creature holds out a hand, slim and long- fingered, but tapering into claws that were at least two inches long. They looked sharp and dangerous but clean and shining. "Um," Dom says again, and inches his hand out from under the covers, only barely grasping the creature's before he practically shakes off his hand and slides it away. The creature chuckles. "You're a cute one, aren't you?" "Um," is all Dom can say. "I'm Billy the incubus, actually. Fourth Duke of the Second Circle." Dom frowns. He has no idea how Hell's hierarchy works and is not particularly interested, either. "An incubus?" "Well, actually, you know the girl you fucked last week and didn't call back and she found you at work and you ignored her and she screamed out that you were an asshole? I owed her a favour and so -" Billy sits up on Dom's stomach and stretches his arms out wide. "Here I am." Billy is naked and Dom's eyes widen and he swallows hard. "Um," Dom says. "Um." Billy crawls back up so that his body his aligned with Dom's. "Welcome to your personal Hell and Heaven two-in-one," he says pleasantly. "Hold tight, but don't bother with keeping your arms, legs and head inside the moving vehicle." He smirks as he thrusts his hips and the bed shakes. "I'm hungry, Dominic, and your essence smells delicious." Dominic squeezed his eyes shut and wished it were all a nightmare. --- [5:18 p.m.] Dom is left on his bed, half-conscious, but not dead, not dead thank God, and the incubus is gone. The room reeks of sex, and Dom's heart is still beating rapidly away from fear and adrenaline and the hours and hours of sex. The incubus had been insatiable, feeding and feeding until Dom had collapsed from exhaustion. Dom wonders why the incubus didn't just kill him. --- [December 10] Dom enters his quiet, dark apartment, and after tossing his keys onto the side table by the door, he goes into his bedroom, stripping as he does so. A shower after work always served to relax him. Dom stopped dead in his tracks. The incubus was there, naked as before, lounging on his bed. "What?" Dom says. "Hello again," the incubus says, and waves a hand of sharp claws. Dom winces. The scratch marks left by those razor tips still leak the occasional drop of blood; the wounds haven't even closed yet. Dom takes a step back, but the incubus says, "Oh, no," and suddenly Dom is propelled towards the bed with the crook of an index finger. "You were so delicious," the incubus breathed. "I couldn't just let you go to waste like that." The incubus is beautiful, but Dom is scared to death. --- [December 11] The incubus left at dawn last night, and Dom managed to fall into uneasy slumber for a few hours before his alarm went off. As he came out of the bathroom, towelling off his wet hair, he saw the sheets, bloody and stained, and his heart gave a thump of feardesirefear and he wondered if the incubus would come back tonight. --- [8:46 p.m.] "Hello." "Um." *** Part Two: December 12 --- [December 12] Dom winces as he sits down at the table. His friends are there already, pleasantly buzzed and ordering more rounds. Elijah gives him a strange look. "You alright there, Dom?" Dom nods, and feels the scratch marks on the back of his neck stretch painfully, congealed blood on top of torn skin being broken apart. He wears a black turtleneck tonight, so the random droplets of blood will not show. --- [December 13] The incubus is already there when Dom gets back from the club, and they stare at each other for a second before Dom is slammed against the wall, the incubus tasting unbearably sweet as they kiss hungrily. Dom's mind is whirling, and before he can grasp his senses, he is thrown onto the couch, the long claws of the incubus already shredding through his sweater. Dom winces as the tip of the claws scrape against yesterday's unhealed wounds and the half-mended ones of before. "Does it hurt?" the incubus whispers. "Yes," Dom replies. "Good." --- [9:45 a.m.] Saturday morning. Dom gets to sleep in, because working in school administration gives him these days off. As he slowly regains consciousness, however, he realises that he is in his bedroom and the incubus is huddled up next to him, warm and airy all at the same time. Dom doesn't remember coming into the bedroom, but the incubus had demanded sex until Dom had collapsed (again) on the couch in the living room. Dom supposes that the incubus brought him in here, and he smiles a little to himself, even though he's still deathly frightened of the sleeping demon next to him. --- [December 14] Dom is doing laundry, and he's had to call his mother and ask (embarassed) how to get blood stains out of sheets. His mother (mortified) had asked why, and Dom coughed a bit before he replied, "Got a nosebleed the other night. Blood all over the place." Later as he makes the bed with clean sheets, he smiles as the tiny pinpricks of pain continue to make his skin scream out at him with each movement. Dom wonders if he's gone crazy. --- [7:36 p.m.] It's dark outside, and Dom is eating dinner in front of the television, dressed only in a pair of sweatpants and fuzzy slippers. Hands on his shoulders, and claws extending down to his chest, and Dom doesn't even blink as the incubus says, "Hello." "Hello," Dom replies, because after six nights he is finally able to formulate vaguely coherent replies to the incubus' words. "I'm hungry," the incubus says, and Dom only thinks for a second that he could be funny and offer the incubus some of his dinner, but he dismisses the thought because, well, he's still afraid of the incubus and he doesn't particularly want to die just yet, even if it would be during sex. "Okay," Dom says, and sets down the food on the coffee table before him before leading the way into his bedroom. --- [December 15] Dom has to work today, but he calls in sick because he can't move from his bed. He doesn't know what the incubus does in his own time, but whatever he did yesterday must have been tiring because Dom has never had so much of his soul's essence taken away from him before, not even on the first night of his birthday. His entire body is covered in scratches, some deeper than others, all painful and leaking and bloody. His clean sheets are all stained and dirty and bloodied again, but Dom doesn't care. He doesn't care, either, that he feels as if he's aged ten years, that his muscles are screaming with overuse and that his lungs and kidneys are clenching as if he had run a marathon, because - because... The incubus is so very beautiful. --- [11:23 p.m.] "Hello." "Mm," Dom replies. "Oh, dear." The incubus sounds amused. "I guess I went a little overboard last night." "Mm," Dom says. "Ah well," the incubus says. "I guess I just have to..." The rest of his sentence disappears and Dom can see him moving closer and he thinks, this is it, I'm going to die. He's going to feed and I'm going to die. The incubus places a small kiss on Dom's brow, and settles down next to him. Dom has never been so terrified in his entire life. --- [December 16] Dom never noticed before, but the incubus has wings. Pretty white ones, too, the kind that you would expect an angel to have, not an incubus (demon of Hell). He wonders why he never noticed, but then again, he's never slept in the arms of the incubus before, the wings a protective blanket around the two of them. The incubus opens his eyes as he feels Dom stir. "Good morning," the incubus says. "Why don't you kill me?" Dom whispers, and then his heart is beating at a million miles a minute because the incubus gets this look on his face that makes Dom think that he's going to get this throat slit by those beautiful shining claws. "You're tasty. I think I'll keep you around as a snack," the incubus says. "You feed on others?" "Eh," the incubus says, and Dom feels a bit devastated but he doesn't know why. "I have to get to work," Dom says. "Eh," the incubus says again. Dom wonders if the incubus is offended, but when he comes out of the shower, damp towel clinging to his hips, stained pink and red ever so slightly by the claw marks on his buttocks and hips and thighs, the incubus is nowhere in sight. --- [8:43 p.m.] "Hello." "Hello." And Dom smiles just a tiny bit and he could feel every single last scratch mark on him throb with waiting. *** Part Three: December 17 --- [December 17] Today is the Carol Concert at the secondary school that Dom works at. He doesn't see why the office staff have to attend, but it was just as well. His friend's son (Henry) is a Sixth Year here, and Viggo (the father) is here, too. Dom hasn't seen Viggo in some time, and when everyone is in the foyer waiting to go into the hall, Dom sees him over by the table selling mince pies. "Viggo!" Dom calls. "Dom! How are you?" Viggo pulls him into a hug and slaps a hand onto his back. Dom winces, and Viggo immediately pulls away. "Are you alright?" he asks. "I'm good. How have you been?" Viggo is an American artist. Dom has no idea why he picked dreary London of all places to live in. "Things are good. Are you sure you're alright? Your back seems pretty tender - did you pull a muscle?" Viggo has a worried line between his eyebrows. Dom fights to put a smile on his face. "I'm alright, really." "Dom..." Viggo gives him a sideways look. Dom tugs at the bottom of his sweater, hoping to dear God that the new wounds have closed up and why doesn't he bandage them? - so he can feel the rawness when they scrape against his clothing. --- [10:07 p.m.] The incubus' claws are strangely soft today - still arousing, but less punishing than before. Dom wonders if it's just his imagination. And then, Dom wonders why he's become so addicted to the incubus that even unbearable pain is bearable compared to the hours between the visits. --- [December 18] "Tomorrow is the last day of school," Dom informs the incubus. "I have two weeks of vacation." The incubus replies by drawing a hand of claws down Dom's jean-clad thigh, tearing denim and flesh alike. Dom is so aroused he's surprised he can still form sentences - though where this one came from he has no idea. Billy the incubus tears open the front of Dom's jeans, and the long long claws scrape at the soft skin of Dom's pelvis, but only by accident, creating angry red welts and dotted scarlet droplets of blood. And as the incubus kneels atop him, Dom watches him carefully, taking in the glowing pale skin, the hazel green eyes, the small red mouth, and Dom is so hard that he thinks he's going to die if the incubus doesn't start feeding now now now now *now* goddamit. And then the incubus begins the feeding ritual. --- [December 19] They're having dinner at Sean's house and Dom is crouched at the cabinet below the sink, rummaging into the dark depths in search of alcohol. Christine and the girls are back in the States - Sean is joining them in a couple days to spend Christmas at his parents' house. "Dom fucking Monaghan, what the fucking hell is that?!" Dom whirls around. "What?" Elijah is standing there, half downed glass of bourbon in one hand, clove cigarette in the other. His eyes are large, round, scared. Dom stands up slowly, pulling his shirt back down. "What, Elijah?" he asks quietly. Elijah leaves his glass on the countertop and sets the cigarette between his lips as he suddenly jumps on top of Dom and tries to pull his shirt up and they're wrestling now, because Dom's fighting to keep his shirt down and he's never raised a hand against a friend before but this - *this* Dom will do anything to keep Elijah from finding out. "What's going on?" Sean's voice bellows, and Dom and Elijah leap apart like children caught fighting by their father. Elijah glares accusingly at Dom. "He's got claw marks all over his back," he says almost accusingly. "None of your business," Dom says, glaring right back. "They're all bleeding and icky, too," Elijah counters, knowing Sean will realise the seriousness of it. Sean sighs. "Dom," he says. "Let me see." "No." "Dom..." "I fell over when I was drunk. For fuck's sake, I don't even remember how I got those!" "Dom..." Sean's warning tone goes to a whole new level of danger. Dom knows that Sean will probably wrestle him and he doesn't have a very good chance against Sean's sturdiness and muscles and Sean will rip off his shirt if he thinks Dom is hiding something underneath. Dom sighs and pulls his shirt up. --- [11:58 p.m.] Dom doesn't tell the incubus what happened tonight. He doesn't tell the incubus how Elijah had almost cried, how Sean had asked him, over and over again, to please just tell them if someone was hurting him, because, Dom, we're here for you, we can protect you. Dom doesn't want to be protected. He wants to be ravaged by the incubus. He wants to be torn apart. He wants the incubus to keep feeding - to keep tearing off pieces of his soul each time. He wants those sinfully beautiful claws to keep tearing through his flesh, drawing blood and clouds of lust and want and need. --- [December 20] Dom doesn't realise it, but in just over a week he's lost a lot of weight. His jeans hang low on his hips, his shirts are loose on his thinner frame. The incubus flashes through his mind, and Dom smiles. Food for Billy the incubus, Fourth Duke of the Second Circle. And somehow, the weight loss is worth it, too. --- [9:12 p.m.] "My friends found out last night," Dom blurts out, though for the life of him he doesn't know why. The incubus stops moving toward him. "Oh," he says. "Is it going to be a problem?" "No," Dom says, but looks away. The air seems to freeze, and Dom knows the incubus is getting angry. "Do not lie to me," the incubus says. "Well," Dom begins. "Sean and Elijah think I'm being attacked. Or being forced into sex. Or just - you know." "Well," the incubus says, "I'm not really giving you a choice in this whole arrangement, am I? But if I did, then what's the point of being a demon? I may as well be one of the Hallelujah-singing nitwits up there. Mind you, I do doubt that they'd ever get themselves in a situation such as this to begin with." "Um," Dom says. "Did you tell them the truth?" "No." "Very good." The incubus is pleased, a small smile playing across his lips, and Dom feels a bit lightheaded because he - *he* - made the incubus happy. Dom wonders briefly if demons weren't supposed to let humans know of their existence, but then that strand of thought completely disappears as Billy pounces on top of him. --- [December 21] Sean and Elijah refused to let him alone after Dom went out with them today and they discovered fresh wounds all over. The incubus doesn't appear, and Dom wants to cry because he needs him - *needs* the incubus, fucking *needs* him. --- [December 22] Dom is in the bathroom. Sean and Elijah are outside, watching a movie. "Hello." Dom whirls around. "Hello." *** Part Four: December 23 --- [December 23] The grandfather clock that Dom had in the hallway chimed midnight. "What are you doing here?" Dom whispered, eyes wide. The incubus grinned. "To feed." "But - but my -" "I know." The incubus' grin widens. "I guess you'll just have to be quiet then, won't you?" Dom was always the vocal one. The incubus stretched out a hand in invitation. Dom's eyes fixated themselves onto the pearly silver claws that gleamed under the flourescent light and he swallowed hard. "Okay," he whispered. The incubus licked his lips, and the lamp cracked in half, bathing them in darkness. --- [12:12 a.m.] It had only been a day, but Dom's lust had seemed to grow exponentially with each hour that had passed between the last feeding and now. The bathroom around them had faded away into under the crackle of ancient magic sparkling around them, and the incubus' glamour disappeared with the feeding ritual. Billy's teeth had sharpened into fangs, and his eyes glowed until all that was left were bright orbs of green shining in the darkness. His claws had sharpened too, if it were at all possible, and the pointed ends were so fine they seemed to taper off into nothing. There was a wind, and Dom realised that it was the wings of the incubus, spread wide, trembling with the raw power exuding from the incubus. Long hair brushed Dom's chest as the incubus leaned down slightly, long curls of honey blond appearing suddenly from the usual short locks, sending fierce shocks of arousal straight down to Dom's cock. The incubus cupped Dom's chin, a claw digging into Dom's temple and drawing blood, bringing their mouths together in a rough kiss, all teeth and fangs and tongue and blood and torn skintissueflesh inside his mouth. Dom screamed, and the incubus ate the sound from his mouth. --- [2:45 a.m.] Dom slowly regained consciousness, and realised he was naked in his bed. As he opened his eyes, however, he met the worried gazes of both Sean and Elijah together. They were sat together in a small sofa that faced Dom's bed. "Dominic Monaghan," Sean said quietly. "Sean," Dom replied. "What in God's name happened to you in that bathroom?" Dom lowered his head and refused to answer. "Dom. *Dom*. Answer me, please, Dom." Sean spoke with quiet authority, and still Dom could not even lie. "For fuck's sake, Dom!" Elijah burst out, springing up from his seat, striding toward the bed. "What's been going on? Why are you -" He gestured wildly, unable to find the words. "And the bathroom - you lock yourself in and when we finally break the door down you're naked and *bleeding* and passed out and *God*, Dom, do you even realise how worried we were?!" Elijah's blue eyes shimmered with tears, and one rolled down his pale cheek as he blinked, quavering at his jaw before it splattered onto Elijah's shirt. That seemed to set Elijah off, for he whirled and buried his face in Sean's shoulder, shoulders shaking. Dom still could not answer. "Look what you've done, Dom. You made Elijah cry. Is this what you want, Dom? Do you want me to cry too? Do you want Elijah to keep crying? You're scaring him, Dom. You're scaring us both. Why can't you tell us? What is it that you're hiding? Why can't you tell us?" Sean asked again. "I...can't," was all Dom could say. "I'm sorry." "Are you doing this to yourself?" Sean asked, after a moment of sharp silence. Dom shook his head. "No." "Then who's doing it to you?" Sean's lips were pressed into a thin white line of worry. "Who could possibly have entered your bathroom when you were locked inside?" Dom's mind screamed. "Dom?" "No one, Sean. It isn't anyone." "What is it then? What is it, for God's sake?" "Please," Dom said, voice trembling. "Please, don't ask me anymore. I can't." --- [8:22 p.m.] Sean and Elijah finally left, leaving Dom bleeding and floating in and out of consciousness on his bed. If they couldn't protect him in his own home, they couldn't protect him either way. That, and Sean had a flight to the States. Dom had almost forgotten. Tomorrow would be Christmas Eve. He shivered at the thought of the incubus feeding tomorrow. --- [8:23 p.m.] "Hello." Dom's eyes widened as he saw the incubus laying next to him in bed. "Hello." "I don't suppose you're up for another feeding," the incubus said. "You've been very hungry lately," Dom said. And indeed the incubus had been. The feeding sessions were getting more and more intense, drawing more out of Dom than ever before. "Yes," was all the incubus said. "I haven't been feeding off other people as much lately." The sudden burst of happiness shocked Dom with its intensity, and he blinked wide eyes as the incubus kissed Dom on the forehead and closed his eyes for rest. *** Part Five: December 24 --- December 24 Dom spent his day shopping - he always, always waited until last minute to get Christmas gifts. One for Elijah, one for his Mum and Dad, one for Viggo, one for Henry, and one for - one for... Him. --- 12:04 p.m. Dom had absolutely no idea how women managed it, and in high heels as well. He had only been out for a couple hours - and his feet were absolutely *killing* him. But he had his presents - his people were easy to shop for. But for the incubus - Dom's heart skipped a beat just thinking about him - for the incubus, Dom had no present yet. --- 3:22 p.m. Didn't people have to work? Dom struggled to fight his way through the crowds in the street, sighing and pushing even as he excused himself. And then he saw it. The gift he would give the incubus. --- 5:52 p.m. Dom was home, sipping a glass of red wine, enjoying the BBC holiday specials on the television. Elijah was over as well, nursing a clove cigarette and a similar glass of red wine. The atmosphere between the two were awkward, but calm. Elijah didn't speak of Dom's markings, and Dom didn't mention them. --- 6:13 p.m. "Goodnight, Elijah. Happy Christmas." "Goodnight Dom. Happy Christmas to you too." Elijah hesitated, before saying, "Dom. Those cut marks - whoever gave them to you - I just hope they deserve you. Because, Dom. It's not natural, but. You know." He shuffled his feet and stuff his hands into his pockets. Dom smiled. "Thank you, Elijah." "You still can't tell? Or you won't?" "It's a little of both. But if you believed me, I'd tell you." "I'd believe you, Dom, I really would!" Elijah's eyes were wide and serious. Dom smiled a little sadly. "No, you wouldn't. I can't, anyway. I'm sorry, Elijah." "It's alright. I'll see you later." "Bye." And Dom closed the door. --- 6:30 p.m. Dom's parents came over for dinner. It was quiet, peaceful, and they didn't ask Dom about why it was so painful for him to smile (flesh bitten through by fangs inside his mouth unhealed open bleeding). They sat for a glass of sherry afterwards, talking about random things. They asked if Dom had a new boyfriend yet, and Dom blushed. "I have my eye on someone," he said. "But I'm not sure." "Who is he?" his father asked, and his mother added, "Is he a good boy?" "Oh, just someone," Dom said, but his blush deepened as his thoughts turned to the incubus and suddenly every single wound on him - old and new, healed and still-bleeding, throbbed and tingled and sent sparks of white-hot anticipation up his spine. It thrilled him and terrified him at the same time. --- 10:32 p.m. "Hello." "Hello." "I was waiting for them to leave." "Oh." "I'm hungry." "Okay." --- December 25 When Dom regained consciousness, it was still dark outside. He checked the blinking red lights of his digital clock - four twenty-six in the morning. The incubus was still next to him, sleeping, glamour put on once more. Dom rolled over to watch him sleep, to watch the stillness that no human being possessed. No movement of chest, no sounds of breathing, no stirring whatsoever. It was unnerving, but it did not bother Dom. Dom wondered why the glamour was so important to the incubus. He found the incubus beautiful either way. --- 4:37 a.m. "Good morning." "Good morning." "Happy Christmas." The incubus made a face. "Ugh," he said. "Fucking Christ. Hate the bastard." "You shouldn't say that, you know." The incubus glared at him. "You've never met him. You don't know how insufferable he possibly could be." "Well," Dom said. "We get this holiday because of him. I like it." The incubus replied with stony silence. "I got you a present," Dom said. The green eyes of the incubus brightened, literally. "Really?" He sat up in bed. "Where is it?" Dom sat up as well, wincing as he broke open new wounds. His muscles were so sapped of energy it seemed his very bones were about to crack from the weight of his body. He panted from the exertion it took him - he usually didn't try to get out of bed until a few hours after he woke up. When he stumbled getting out of bed, the incubus was there, catching him in strong arms and enveloping him in long curving claws that pricked Dom's skin. "Are you alright?" the incubus asked. "I don't have much experience with keeping people alive." "I'm fine," Dom said. "I'll be fine, too. Just needed a minute." The incubus let go, and Dom's skin rose in goosebumps, feeling the loss already. He went to the closet, and retrieved a small box. "Here," he said, returning to the bed and sinking down into it gratefully. "Should I open it?" the incubus asked. Dom nodded, eyelids feeling as if they weighed a ton. Each. Slicing through the paper with a claw, the incubus was met with a burgundy coloured box. It was quite plain, cardboard covered with satin- finish paper. Gingerly, the incubus lifted the lid with, and Dom could see as the incubus' eyes largened and brightened further. It was a small crystal figurine of a winged angel, head bowed and hands clasped. Of course, it was ironic giving an incubus the figurine of an angel, but the instant Dom saw it, it had reminded him of Billy. "I thought of you when I saw it in a store window," Dom said softly. "It's beautiful," the incubus said, watching the prisms of light play around inside. "Do you like it?" Dom asked, biting his lip even though it was already raw and torn and bloody. "Yes." --- 9:40 p.m. Dom was at the bar by himself. Spending Christmas home alone was too sad, even for him. "Hello," said a man. "Hello," said Dom. "You here by yourself?" "Yeah," Dom replied. "Me too," the man said. "It's just too sad sitting at home watching the telly." "Yeah," Dom agreed. --- 11:26 p.m. They were kissing, Dom and the man - Daniel, his name was Daniel - and tumbled together on Dom's couch. Daniel's hand slid inside Dom's shirt, grazing over the open wounds, and Dom winced and pulled away. Daniel smiled a sly grin. "Oh, so you like that kind of stuff then," he said. Dom couldn't reply, but pulled Daniel down for another kiss. --- 11:29 p.m. The weight of Daniel above Dom disappeared suddenly, and Dom's eyes flew open. The incubus was standing, with the unconscious body of Daniel at his feet, appearing for the first time without his glamour outside of the feeding ritual. Dom realised now why the glamour was always on, for without it, power and magic leaked out of the incubus' very skin, terrifying and awe- inspiring. Waves of energy rippled around the incubus, blowing the waist- length hair back. The eyes, as with the feeding ritual, were glowing, chasms of colour, the sockets lacking human eyes. Teeth, so sharp, like the claws, glinting, silver, and Dom felt in fear of the incubus for the first time. "Did you kill him?" Dom whispered, frightened, truly frightened. The incubus did not answer, and took a step towards Dom, who recoiled and pushed himself back into the cushions. Dom was holding his breath, waiting for - for something - *something*, but nothing came. "I'm hungry," the incubus said, and his voice was no longer as it used to be, and Dom supposed that the glamour masked his true voice as well, for this one was so alluring it seemed to curl around his senses and draw him in, capable of bringing men and women alike to their climaxes without even a touch. Dom thought, this is going to be the last time he feeds. He's going to kill me for real now, because - and Dom understands this - because I've become the incubus', a property of his, like a concubine of an emperor, and I just, oh God, I just... The incubus raised a hand, and Dom found himself being pushed off the sofa so that he tumbled onto the floor. "Bed," said Billy. "I starved myself this entire day. Tonight, I feed." Dom nodded, not daring to answer. Tonight, he was going to die. *** Part Six: December 26 --- December 26 Dom was in his usual position: on his back, arms pinned by invisible restraints that, like seatbelts, prevented sudden movements, waiting for the incubus, who was straddling his hips, Dom's erection pressed painfully down by his weight. The incubus leaned down, and Dom strained his neck to try and touch their lips together, but the incubus wouldn't let him. Dom whimpered, "Please," but the incubus' eyes just flashed and he leaned back. A crook of a finger, and Dom's clothes disappeared right off his body. The incubus, naked as always, lifted himself, and plunged himself onto Dom in one smooth motion, without any of the foreplay of before. Dom thought he exploded. The heat, the softness, the tightness, the tingle of power and magic inside the incubus was so much more than before that Dom knew his senses were on an overload, and he was terrified - simply terrified - but aroused to a point where he had never been in his entire life. And he could feel it, too - feel his soul being drawn and concentrated into one point, could feel the incubus' muscles milking it out from him, drop by drop. The incubus rode him roughly, claws roaming Dom's skin, from throat to pelvis, and when Dom whispered, "Please," as his eyes asked, "Would you please kiss me?" the incubus sunk his claws into Dom's chest, leaving four straight lines going diagonally across, blood gushing out and dripping down Dom's sides to soak in his sheets. Dom barely lasted five minutes before he came, screaming and bucking and tugging on his restraints, crying and sweating and begging for more, "Please, oh please, more, oh, please, more!", and more screaming and his throat was raw but more screaming still, and the incubus - oh, the incubus - head tossed back, throat exposed, the curve of his back angled so artistically, mouth open, a lion's roar ringing the room, but the incubus didn't come, no, because the incubus doesn't come, because it would be a waste of such a delicious meal. Dom sagged back into the bed, limp, head pounding, heart racing, aching from his skin to his bones. The incubus, still hard, said, "More," and this time, Dom had no energy left to pull on the ties binding his wrists and ankles. --- 6:52 a.m. Dom knew, deep inside, that he would not live after the end of this round with the incubus. He saw no tunnel of white light behind the lids of his closed eyes, and his life did not flash by him like a movie on fast-forward. He did not think of his loved ones or friends or even anything practical, like his job or how the police would find him. He merely knew deep inside, and all he could think of and see was the incubus with the glamour on, smiling sweetly at him and holding his Christmas present. --- 6:54 a.m. The incubus without the glamour was very obviously a monster. A demon. Something that came from the filth of life, and yet, was so beautiful that you could not help but adore it. The incubus with the glamour was a very beautiful being, human looking, and sweeter, softer around the edges. All the power present in his original form was hidden, kept carefully inside with a cage of human skin. Dom loved the incubus either way. --- 6:55 a.m. Dom was reaching his peak, no more energy left in him to give any indication of it, except a half-hearted whimper. He gathered all the energy he had left, and opened his eyes, taking in, carefully, the incubus in his true form. Dom parted his lips, dry and stiff. "I -" The incubus ignored him. Slowly, partly not to activate his restraints, and partly because he simply had no energy, Dom raised a hand, and cupped the incubus' face. The incubus seemed as if he wanted to move away, but he didn't. "I love you, Billy," Dom said, and slowly let his hand drop. The incubus stopped moving. --- 6:56 a.m. The last thing Dom saw was the incubus, and somehow the glamour was on again. The incubus was looking at him, green eyes wide and round, red lips pouting as confusion showed plainly on his features. The incubus stretched out a hand towards Dom, and then Dom's eyes closed of their own accord. He thought he felt the incubus' touch, a soft warmth on his face. He thought he heard the incubus scream, "No!" But then he knew no more. *** Fin *** For those that want a happy ending, go onto Part Seven. Word of warning: The happy ending is nowhere near as fun. *** Part Seven: December 27 --- December 27 Dom was in bed, covers tucked tightly around him. He could feel the warmth of the sun on his face, could see the light behind his eyelids. And he wondered if this was heaven. "Dominic." A tear-filled whisper. Dom wanted to open his eyes, because this voice (so soft so gentle oh god) - it couldn't be, it *couldn't*, because - because... "Dominic." A sigh. But he couldn't open them, they were too heavy. He wanted to raise a hand, to touch the owner of the voice. "Dominic." A low murmur. But he couldn't lift his hand, it was leaden and numb. He wanted to speak, to answer the voice. "Dominic." Another sigh. His lips were dry and broken, but they parted and a shadow of his voice passed through. "Billy," he croaked. "Dominic?" Dom's features screwed up into a frown as he tried to speak again. "Billy..." "Dominic!" Struggling to open his eyes, Dom sighed and murmured, "Billy, what are you doing here?" But then he floated out of consciousness again. --- 8:10 a.m. Dom's eyes opened. "Billy?" And there he was, the incubus, sitting cross-legged next to Dom on the bed, naked as always. Beautiful as always. The incubus did not reply, merely gazed back at Dom with intense eyes. Dom tried to sit up, but the incubus immediately shot out both hands and pressed him back down into the bed. "Rest," the incubus said. "Your soul needs time to recuperate." "But I thought - how did -" "That's for later," the incubus said. "Sleep. Rest." Dom's eyes filled with tears. "I thought you hated me." The incubus didn't answer immediately. When a tear rolled down Dom's cheek, the incubus wiped it away with his fingers, and held his hand in front of Dom's lips. "Eat," he said. "Don't waste your soul." Dom opened his mouth and licked the salt from the incubus' fingertips, blinking the rest of his tears away. "Rest, now," the incubus ordered, and Dom closed his eyes right away. He could feel his tired body relax, could feel his hold on consciousness start to slip away again. "I never hated you," the incubus whispered. --- 4:03 p.m. "What day is it?" "The twenty-seventh." "How long have I been resting?" "About twenty one hours." "Did you save me?" The incubus did not answer. "How?" No answer. "Why?" Still no answer. "How could you not hate me?" And Dom could feel the sting in his eyes again. "Don't waste your soul," the incubus said quietly. "No," Dom said, as forcefully as he could manage. "Tell me. Please." "Save your tears. I didn't let you feed on me just so you would have tears to cry." Dom sniffed. "Okay," he said in a small voice, looking away. When he closed his eyes to sleep, he thought he felt the sharp pressure of claws on his cheek, caressing gently. --- December 28 "I'm sorry." The incubus did not reply. "There's nothing I can do to make it up to you, but -" "Did you mean it?" the incubus cut in. "Mean what?" "What you said?" Green eyes gazed earnestly at him, smudged with wariness and something else that Dom could not quite place. Was it anger? Hurt? "What do you mean? When?" Dom frowned slightly. "When you were about to die." "Yes," Dom said. "I do mean it." "Even now?" "Now more than ever." Silence. --- 6:17 a.m. "Did you stay by me the whole time?" Dom was sitting up now, propped up by pillows conjured with a wave of a hand. "Yes." "Are you hungry?" "It doesn't matter." "Are you hungry?" Dom asked again. "Yes." "Could you -" "No. You're still too weak." "Oh. Okay. Alright. Yeah. Okay." Dom felt incompetent and useless and utterly wretched. --- 10:37 p.m. Dom woke up from another nap. The incubus lay next to him, eyes closed, not breathing. Dom stretched out a hand and trailed his index finger down the side of the incubus' face. The incubus opened his eyes, and Dom gasped. "You're awake," Dom said dumbly. "I don't need sleep. I just rest my body." The incubus brushed hair away from Dom's forehead. "How are you feeling?" "Much better." "Good. Souls don't take that long to recuperate." "How did you do it?" "Do what?" "Let me feed." "The same way that I feed off you." "Oh." Dom blushed. --- December 29 "Why did you do it?" Dom asked, and he was in the bathtub. The incubus had carried him in with his own hands. New sheets had been conjured already. "Do what?" The incubus was leaning against the counter, arms crossed. "Save me." "Because I wanted to. Why do you keep asking me questions?" Dom sunk a little bit lower into the water. "I just want to understand." "What do you want to understand?" "You." --- 12:09 p.m. "Are you sure this is alright?" Dom asked nervously. "I could just order takeaway." "It's fine," the incubus replied airily, waving a careless hand. "They live to serve." "I know, but..." "And they are excellent chefs." "Um...okay, then, I guess..." Two demons were currently in the kitchen - red, scaly creatures with charred skin and blackened horns. They had been ordered by their master to prepare food for Dom. --- 8:17 p.m. "I've known you for exactly three weeks now," Dom said. "Oh." "Billy, I love you." The incubus' eyes widened and he shifted away slightly. "You do? Really?" Dom sighed. "I do. Really." "But - but I'm an incubus..." "You're an incubus, but you're Billy." "I tried to kill you." "But you saved me instead." "I was feeding off you." "But you fed me to keep me alive." "I - I'm an incubus." "You said that already. I don't think that's a very important issue with me right now." "Why are you..." "Because when I thought I was going to die, all I could see was you." The incubus said nothing. "I know you must have some feelings for me - perhaps not the ones I wish for, but some nevertheless, because you did save me and you are starving yourself to be with me now." Nothing, said the incubus, still. "So please. Give me an answer," Dom pleaded. "I know I don't deserve one, but please - *please*." The incubus had turned away, and Dom reached out for him, but was afraid to touch. "Billy," Dom said again. "Please." "I did it because I - I care - I love you," Billy said, mumbling his words. "You were my prey, but I - I couldn't help it." He looked up at Dom, and he frowned slightly. "I'm not supposed to have feelings of any sort. I wasn't created to have them." "But my soul has feelings. And you've been feeding off me." Dom leaned over to rest his head on the incubus' shoulder. "Please," he whispered. "Feed on me. Please feed. Please. I don't want you to starve." The hunger in the incubus could not be repressed, and rolled off his body in palpable waves of tension. With such an offer, the incubus could not refuse. "Okay." --- December 30 His body hadn't been fully recovered yet, so he was tired and aching and feeling half dead. Fresh wounds were piled on top of each other; his skin was not large enough a playground for questing claws. But the sun was shining outside, there was another week for vacation, and the incubus was resting next to him. "Billy," Dom whispered, and he smiled giddily. A trickle of blood trailed out of the corner of his mouth. Billy opened his eyes. "Dominic," he said. And a pause. "Hello." "Hello." --- The End. ***